Administrators of Union Territories will now be able to exercise the powers of state governments to establish dental councils, promote dental healthcare services in rural areas and frame related regulations, under a notification issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, UNI reported on Friday.

Source: UNI via Asian Mail

The notification states that the President has directed that the administrators of the specified Union Territories — whether designated as Lieutenant Governors or Administrators — shall, subject to the control of the President and until further orders, exercise the powers and discharge the functions of state governments under Sections 29, 48 and 56 of the National Dental Commission Act, 2023, within their respective territories.

Source: Agency report via LatestLY

The territories covered are the National Capital Territory of Delhi, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry, Chandigarh, Ladakh and Lakshadweep.

Source: UNI via Asian Mail

The National Dental Commission Act, 2023 regulates the profession of dentistry in India, provides for quality and affordable dental education and seeks to make high-quality oral healthcare accessible across the country. It established the National Dental Commission, replacing the Dental Council of India, and received Presidential assent on August 11, 2023, coming into force on February 29, 2024.

Source: Agency report via LatestLY

The delegation means UT administrations can now move directly on constituting dental councils and framing the rules needed to expand dental services, including in rural areas, instead of waiting for state-level machinery that Union Territories do not have.